Answering the question, “Why do you work?” is a crucial step in designing a well-lived life.
What is a Workview?
If you ask someone why they work, they’ll likely say that they have to. Work provides us with an income that supports our basic needs, like food and housing. But is that all there is work? Can work positively impact your community or even the world? Can work be meaningful to you beyond a paycheck?
A workview explores the concept that there is more to work than just earning an income. Your workview answers the question, “Why do you work?”
Why is Developing Your Workview Important?
Work is where most of us spend the majority of our waking hours and occupies a large part of our attention and our energy. That’s why understanding your workview is such a crucial step in designing a well-lived life. If you’re not aware of what makes fulfilling work and don’t design in the direction of your workview, attaining a joyful life will be incredibly difficult.
Your workview is a north star that can guide you towards a fulfilling career and help you say, “no thank you,” to opportunities that just don’t align with your values. It can help us set boundaries and simplify our decision-making process. With an actualized workview, life becomes more enjoyable.
Taking the time to understand your motivation to work will help you identify what work is meaningful to you and help you make decisions about what type of organization you want to work for and what you what to do in that organization. Alternatively, it can help you realize that you’d be better suited to build your own business!
How to Draft Your Workview
Here are some questions that may help you as you develop your workview:
- Why work? Try to list at least 10 reasons.
- How does work relate to others?
- What defines good or worthwhile work to you?
- Where do you find flow (the feeling of complete engagement) during work?
Pay special attention to where you give off the most energy and where you seem the most authentic. These are pointers to how you define your happiness and success, as well as your key principles.
Now, start writing! When crafting your workview, try to stick to 150-250 words.
Sharing Your Workview
Sharing your workview may seem scary, but it’s a great way to attract likeminded people who will help you accomplish your goals and manifest opportunities that are right for you.
Here are some ways you can share your workview with others:
- Write it up as a blog entry or post it on social media
- Add it to your LinkedIn bio
- Include it on your business cards or personal website
- Hang it in your office or frame it and put it on your desk
A well-lived life is a coherent life, one in which who you are, what you believe, and what you do are aligned. Use your workview to drive your choice making about work assignments, setting your work priorities and defining the work that will work for you.
